WARRIORS: The Last Stand

[Saphnie]

Hailpaw grinned, a wide, sharp toothy smile, as he slowly crawled along the forest floor. He placed his paws down silently on the dry, dead leaves, sneaking up on the little vole just ahead of him. He leaned back, waved his tail about then sprung forward, catching the vole on the back. It screamed - all other prey would now flee for an hour or so. Hailpaw thumped it on the head and it fell limp onto the dirty ground.

"Good work, Hailpaw," a tall brown cat said, slinking out from between the trees. Her tail was long and slim, her head long and thin. Her ears perched high on her head and seemed to reach to StarClan alone.

"Thanks, Greensong!" the little apprentice squeaked. He picked up the vole in his teeth, stumbled over the weight of it then trotted up to his mentor. He dropped it at his feet then looked up adoringly, waiting for more praise.

[Alley Cat]

Hailpaw and Greensong returned with his vole and dropped it in the fresh kill pile. "I see you finally caught something." A little golden and white tabby with hazel eyes poked her head out from behind the fesh kill pile. It was Hazelpaw, followed by Aspenpaw, a small white cat with some grey patches. Her brown eyes scanned the fresh kill pile curiously.

[Saphnie]

"Hazelpaw," Greensong said calmly, looking at the apprentice.

Hazelpaw retreated. "Sorry," she murmured.

Aspenpaw frowned at Hailpaw. "Why did you only catch a vole?," she asked, confused. "I thought you would catch more because you said you're such a great hunter."

Greensong turned to look at Hailpaw, an amused expression playing on her face. Hailpaw blushed furiously. "Oh, um, yes, of course ... I, uh, I just ... didn't feel ... um ..."

[Alley Cat]

Aspenpaw tilted her head and looked at him shyly. Hazelpaw butted in.
"SO..... anyway.... I was just playing with Heatherpaw and SHE said that her mentor said that there is going to be a cold front this winter!" Aspenpaw turned in Hazelpaw's direction. "That means that we won't have as much food soon!" Hazelpaw looked pleased with the reaction she was getting. "Yeah, and now's that time to put Hailpaws oh so great hunting skills to work!" She taunted.
Greensong swatted at her. "Why don't you go and insult someone else?"
Hazelpaw batted her eye lashes. "I'm shawwy....I didn't mean to inshult him." She sniffled.
Greensong's eyes softened and she gently cuffed her on the head. "Who could get mad at THAT face?" she said gently. "Now go find your mentor, I bet he is looking for you."
Hazelpaw nodded enthusiastically, then turned around to leave. As she did, Hailpaw saw her roll her eyes, all of hte sweetness gone. Her sweet smile was replaced with a sneer when he caught her eye. She left briskly, leaving a boiling mad Hailpaw.

[Saphnie]

"I'm going to have breakfast. You two can go talk to Stoneleaf and see if he has any chores for you," Greensong said. She licked Hailpaw on the shoulder. "I'll see you later."

"Chores?," Hailpaw grumbled as the tall cat disappeared into the warrior's den, a fat mouse dangling from her jaws. "I don't want to do any chores!"

"Come on, kittypet," Aspenpaw said teasingly. "Surely someone as strong and courageous as you couldn't be afraid of cleaning out some old bedding?"

Hailpaw looked at her with a vague expression.

[Alley Cat]

Hailpaw made his way over to the elders den. There he spotted Flypaw talking to one of the kinder elders. She seemed stricken with awe by the elder's story. Hailpaw decided not to disturb them and trotted over to the other elders.

"Ok, umm, I'm here to clean out the bedding so..."

The elders groaned. One elder, a fat short legged brown tabby, stood up. "It's about time! We've been sitting here all day laying on our own hair balls for goodness sakes! Clean it up!"

Hailpaw gulped and crinkled his nose at the pungent smell of old hair balls. Much to his discontent, he grabbed the moss in his teeth and dragged it out of the den. The elders sat in a clean corner and complained.

"I'm getting to old for this!"

"Do they WANT us to die? Youngters have no respect these days, keeping their elders in such a filthy place!"

Hailpaw returned seconds later and continued his dirty work.

[Saphnie]

Aspenpaw came up behind him, carrying fresh bedding in her mouth. "Here you go. I'll get the fresh bedding and you can lay it out, it'll be quicker."
Hailpaw mumbled his thanks.
The old fat Elder got up and slowly made his way over to where Hailpaw was working. "Hello, Stoneleaf," he murmured through the bedding.
"That layer's not thick enough!" he bellowed. He sat down with a sigh of relief. "Are you trying to make sure you don't do it properly?! Do it again!"
Hailpaw groaned as Aspenpaw returned with another bundle of bedding.
"That's not enough!" Stoneleaf barked from his seat. "Get some more!"
Aspenpaw nodded politely."That's what I was doing, Stoneleaf."
"Apprentices today!" another Elder boomed from the corner. "Absolutely no respect whatsoever!"

[Alley Cat]

By the time Stoneleaf was satisfied, there were ten layers of moss in the den and he had a bit of trouble climbing up into it. "It's not great," the elder murmered. "But it'll have to do now."

The other elders were laying on their three layers of moss, perfectly comfortable and satisfied with their new nests.

As Hailpaw and Aspenpaw made their way out of the den, Aspenpaw turned to him. "Sometimes I think Stoneleaf's tantrums have nothing to do with the bedding. Sometimes I wander if it's just for the attention. Stoneleaf shouldn't do that, though. We apprentices need to have time to train." She stated.

Hailpaw nodded in agreement. Suddenly there was an angry yowl. Aspenpaw and Hailpaw turned to see Hazelpaw looking at them fiercely.

"Aspenpaw, what are you doing with HIM?!"

[Saphnie]

Before Hailpaw could open his mouth, Aspenpaw said, "Greensong told us to clean out the Elder's den. What's wrong with you, Hazelpaw? I can walk with whoever I want."
"He's an idiot!" Hazelpaw yowled. "You know what his parents did - stick with your own kind, Aspenpaw, I'm warning you, or there'll be trouble!"
At the mention of his parents, Hailpaw blushed furiously and turned away. Aspenpaw turned to him sadly, knowing what he was thinking.

"Clans do not mix!" he yowled. "DarkClan cannot be connected with LeafClan, Arrowtail!"
"But I love her!" Arrowtail said angrily, protecting Kindleheart. He growled. "I will never stop loving her!"
"Then you will be banished from the Clan forever!" Swallowears shrieked. He leapt down.
"She is kitting!" Arrowtail roared. "Stay away from her!"

He blinked. Aspenpaw looked at him curiously. Hazelpaw was nowhere to be seen. "Are you all right?" she said worriedly. "You cried out and fell to the ground."

[Alley Cat]

"I-I'm fine." He murmured.

Hazelpaw didn't look convinced. "You'd better visit Jumptail; You can never be too sure. You've been working too hard."

Hailpaw nodded weakly and headed off to the medicine cat's den. jumptail sat on the ground outside swaying her fat golden tail. "Hi there Hailpaw. What can I do for ya?" The jolly old female heaved herself up and padded over to him. "Sheesh! You look EXausted! You been overworkin' lately?"

Hailpaw didn't answer. He was too busy looking at her buck tooth that stuck outside of her mouth when it was closed. He found the Shadowclan medicine cat very interesting. Her layed back attitude towards everything baffled him and the fact that she'd always find time to sniff the roses was totally unlike anyone he knew.

She looked at hi oddly. "Yep, I guess since you're not respondin' an' everything you ARE overworked. Well Honey, you just stay in that extra nest over there and sleep all ya wanna. I'll get ya some poppy seeds if ya can't sleep." she suggested.

Hailpaw shook his head. "No thankyou Jumptail. I think I'll be fine." He padded over to the outside nest and plopped down. It wasn't long before he was fast asleep.

[Saphnie]

"Kitting?" Swallowears said in incredulity. "You've crossed the line too far now, Arrowtail!"
"I'm warning you," Arrowtail hissed. "You stay away from her, or I'll kill you."
Swallowears leapt on Arrowtail, screaming. They clawed at each other, fought, kicked and bit. Kindleheart wailed in sorrow as the deputy ripped at Arrowtail's throat, and her love fell the ground, lifeless.
"Get out of here, now," Swallowears growled at the pregnant shecat.
Kindleheart's head pounded. She couldn't get up - she was due any minute.
"No," she whispered, and closed her eyes as Swallowears leapt on her.

Hailpaw woke with a start.

[Alley Cat]

It was late afternoon when Hailpaw made his way out of the nest. Jumptail was sorting herbs and swishing her fat tail on the ground while chewing on a piece of grass. She did that often. Before he could pass, She looked up. "Ah, yer awake. You slept quite a while there youngin'. You have a good sleep?" Hailpaw stared ahead, distracted at the sight of Aspenpaw. "Uh, yeah, yeah....thankyou Jumptail." She nodded and returned to sorting herbs. Hailpaw padded over to his friend. "Aspenpaw, can I talk with you for a minute?" Looking at his face, Aspenpaw added. "About....your little problem?" She whispered. Hailpaw nodded. Aspenpaw was the only real friend he had and trusted her with his secrets. Aspenpaw looked around cautiously for any sign of Hazelpaw. Hailpaw knew her sister wouldn't like her hanging out with him. When the coast was clear, Aspenpaw waved her tail for him to follow, although she needn't do that. He knew exactly where they were going. They came to a dense bush thicket on the far side of camp. The two cats slipped under it, unnoticed. There was a small clearing in the middle of the bushes barely big enough for two cats. Aspenpaw crouched down, making herself comfortable. "So, what's been bothering you?" Hailpaw sighed. " I've been having these...dreams. They're of my parents." Aspenpaw thingyed her head. "But you can't possibly remember your parents...they died as soon as you were born..." Hailpaw nodded. "I know. That's the problem. In the dreams, my mother was about to give birth to me and my siblings. There was a fight and my father was killed. Then my mother is attacked and I wake up..." Aspenpaw looked at him sympathetically. "That must be hard. I wonder if Starclan has something to do with your dreams." Hailpaw looked up into the sky. "If they are, I wonder why?"

[Alley Cat]

I just noticed I made a pretty awful typing mistake. Thingyed is meant to be thingyed. I probably accidentally erased a line or something... -.-'

[Alley Cat]

I did it again!!! ARRRGGG! Ok. Thingyed is meant to be thingyed. Sheesh.... seriously, I haven't slept in like two days so bare with me.

[Alley Cat]

WAIT A MINUTE!!! EVERU TIME I TYPE THE WORD, THEY REPLACE IT AS THINGYED!! WHAT THE HECK? testing: Aspenpaw thingyed her head.